News from Kenya reports parents beat their 11-year-old child to death as they were trying to “instill discipline and force a confession out of their daughter” who had allegedly stolen money. Media reports from the same country also indicates that another recently beat their two-year-old to death because she had refused to eat. It is important to note that that these parents most likely didn’t beat their children with the intention to end up killing them, they were basically ‘disciplining’ them, something that is popular in many African communities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported in 2021 that parents who used corporal punishment, however “mild” or “light” it may be perceived, are at heightened risk of perpetrating severe maltreatment. Corporal punishment leads to trauma, not good behaviour – clinical psychologist One would say that the Rwandan society is now awake to the fact that physical violence is not only illegal, but also inhumane. However, this is almost forgotten when it comes to children. Some parents don’t even want to hear the word “violence” when referring to corporal punishment given to children. It is always justified as “punishing” and “disciplining”- but whatever it is called, it is still child abuse. There is this proverb that “spare the rod and spoil a child” which is used to justify corporal punishment against children. Unbeknownst to many, research shows that the “rod” actually spoils the child. WHO also reported that corporal punishment is linked to a range of negative outcomes for children, including physical and mental ill-health, impaired cognitive and socio-emotional development, poor educational outcomes, increased aggression and perpetration of violence, and even death. Teachers, parents warned against corporal punishment As a community, there is much we can do to prevent this kind of child abuse. We can transform harmful social norms around child-upbringing and child discipline by promoting non-violent parenting practices. Existing child-protection laws can also be enforced in full to ensure that children are equally protected under the law against assault just like adults, and serve an educational function aiming to increase awareness, shift attitudes towards non-violent childrearing, and clarify the responsibilities of parents in their caregiving role.
